metadata
Title
Harmonized data on early stage litter decomposition using tea material across Japan
Authors
(Alphabetical order excepting the first author)
Satoshi N Suzuki1,*, Mioko Ataka2, Ika Djukic 3, Tsutomu Enoki4, Karibu Fukuzawa5, Mitsuru Hirota6, Takuo Hishi7, Tsutom Hiura 8, Kazuhiko Hoshizaki9, Hideyuki Ida10 , Akira Iguchi11, Yasuo Iimura12, Takeshi Ise 13, Tanaka Kenta14, Yoshifumi Kina11, Hajime Kobayashi15, Yuji Kominami16, Hiroko Kurokawa16, Kobayashi Makoto17, Michinari Matsushita18, Rie Miyata19, Hiroyuki Muraoka20, Tatsuro Nakaji8, Masahiro Nakamura 21, Shigeru Niwa22, Nam Jin Noh23, Takanori Sato24, Tatsuyuki Seino25, Hideaki Shibata26, Ryo O. Suzuki27, Koichi Takahashi28, Tomonori Tsunoda29, Tasuhiro Ustumi 30, Kenta Watanabe11
1. The University of Tokyo Chichibu Forest, The University of Tokyo, Chichibu, Japan
2. Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
3. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürich, Switzerland
4. Kasuya Research Forest, Kyusyu University, Sasaguri, Fukuoka, Japan
5. Nakagawa Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University, Otoineppu-mura, Hokkaido, Japan
6. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
7. Shiiba Research Forest, Kyusyu University, Shiiba, Miyazaki, Japan
8. Tomakomai Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University, Tomakomai, Japan
9. Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
10. Faculty of Education, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
11. Okinawa College, National Institute of Technology, Nago, Japan
12. School of Environmental Science, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone, Japan
13. Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
14. Sugadaira Research Station, Mountain Science Center, University of Tsukuba, Ueda, Japan
15. Education and Research Center of Alpine Field Science, Shinshu University, Minami-Minowa-mura, Nagano, Japan
16. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
17. Teshio Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University, Horonobe, Hokkaido, Japan
18. Forest Tree Breeding Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Hitachi, Japan
19. Kobe College Junior and Senior High School, Hyogo, Japan
20. River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
21. Wakayama Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University, Kozagawa, Wakayama, Japan
22. Network Center of Forest and Grassland Survey in Monitoring Sites 1000 Project, Japan Wildlife Research Center, Tomakomai, Japan
23. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia
24. Ecohydrology Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Seto, Japan
25. Ikawa Forest Station, Mountain Science Center, University of Tsukuba, Shizuoka, Japan
26. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
27. Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
28. Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan
29. Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa-mura, Nagano, Japan
30. Ashoro Research Forest, Kyusyu University, Ashoro, Hokkaido, Japan
* Corresponding author
Satoshi N. Suzuki
Email: s-suzuki@uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp, Tel.: +81-494-22-0272
Abstract
Litter and soil organic matter decomposition represents one of the major drivers of carbon and nutrient cycling in a given ecosystem; however, it also contributes to a significant production of relevant greenhouse gasses. The Japanese archipelago spans several biomes (boreal-temperate-subtropical) and covers a large range of elevations and ecosystem types. Hence, the comprehension of this fundamental biogeochemical process in diverse ecosystems is crucial to maintain their ecosystem services. In this article, we have provided data on plant leaf decomposition from 33 research sites across Japan. At each site, standard litter material with different decomposition rates, rooibos tea, and green tea were incubated for 90 days between 2012 and 2016 and the remaining mass was recorded. In total, 1904 bags were used. In addition, supplementary measurements of environmental variables essential for the interpretation of the collected data, such as soil and vegetation, were recorded. Plot-level averages of the remaining mass rates of bag contents after incubation ranged 0.17-0.51 for green tea and 0.54-0.82 for rooibos tea. Continued monitoring will also provide important insights into the temporal dynamics of litter decomposition.
Keywords
litter decomposition; elevation; latitude; biogeochemical cycle; soil functioning; tea bag
Introduction
Litter and soil organic matter decomposition represent one of the major drivers of carbon and nutrient cycles in terrestrial ecosystems, which may act as a carbon source or sink. (Chapin III et al., 2009; Houghton, 2005). Although factors regulating litter decomposition process have been well studied (Bradford et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2008), uncertainties in predicting litter decomposition rate have also been reported (Prescott, 2005). One of the causes for those uncertainties is variation in experimental methodologies and plant materials among studies. Studies using cellulose materials, such as cotton strips, have been suggested as an effective approach for standardizing materials to obtain consistent results (Harrison et al., 1988). However, the use of cellulose filters has been criticized, because this method does not account for the complex chemical composition of plant litter (Tiegs et al., 2007). Recently, Keuskamp et al. (2013) developed a novel approach (Tea Bag Index) to collect uniform decomposition data across ecosystems, using commercially available tea bags as highly standardized plant materials. This approach enables the development of a global scale dataset of litter decomposition activity across a variety of ecosystems. Following Keuskamp et al. (2013), several studies using tea bags have been carried out across the globe (e.g. Didion et al., 2016; Djukic et al., 2018; Mori et al., 2016). Because the decomposition rate of litter is mainly determined by litter quality and soil environments (Zhang et al., 2008), the differences in the decomposition rate of such a highly standardized material between sites reflect the difference in the soil environment between sites. Therefore, the decomposition experiments using tea bags can provide a general index for soil functions, such as material cycle and carbon stocking.
This paper reports data on early-stage (90-days) decomposition of 1904 tea bags, in 87 study plots across 33 research sites (Fig. 1), including those participating in research networks such as JALPS (Japanese Alps Inter-University Cooperative Project) and JaLTER (Japan Long-Term Ecological Research Network), as well as other independent sites, across the Japanese archipelago. Our dataset covers a large range of latitudes and elevations (Fig. 2), and a variety of ecosystems, including sub-tropical, warm temperate evergreen forests, cool temperate deciduous forests, subalpine and boreal conifer forests, alpine shrub forests, artificial conifer plantations, and semi-natural grasslands. Supplementary data for environmental variables, soil, and vegetation were also collected essential for the interpretation of the collected data. Ongoing research in the Japanese archipelago is not only providing insights into litter decomposition in the recent climate across diverse ecosystems, but also into projected climatic scenarios, and continued monitoring will permit significant understanding of temporal dynamics across diverse ecosystems. This dataset enables us to examine the responses of decomposition activity, which is strongly related to soil functions such as material cycles and carbon stocks, to a variety of environmental variables, such as temperature and vegetation types (Fig. 3).
Fig. 1 Distribution of the study plots (red closed circles) of tea bag decomposition experiments in Japanese archipelago. The color gradient heat map represents a 1-km mesh model of mean annual temperature (MAT, °C) from Mesh Normal Climatic Data 2010 (Japan Meteorological Agency, 2012).
Fig. 2 Elevation and latitude of the study plots (red closed circles). The background dots indicate all 1 x 1 km-mesh points of the Japanese archipelago with Köppen climate classification based on the Mesh Normal Climatic Data 2010; Cfa/Cwa, humid subtropical; Cfb/Cwb, Temperate oceanic; Dfa/Dwa, hot-summer humid continental; Dfb/Dwb, warm-summer humid continental; ET, Alpine tundra. The second letter of the classification indicates precipitation patterns; f, without dry season; w, dry winter (monsoon influenced).
Fig. 3. Mass remaining rate of green tea and rooibos tea after incubation (ca. 90 days) were plotted against mean August temperature as an example. Results of experiments in summer are shown. Each point indicates the mean of each plot (see Metadata). EB, evergreen broadleaf forests; DB, deciduous broadleaf forests; SR, shrub forests; EC, evergreen coniferous forests; DC, deciduous coniferous forests; BC, broadleaf/conifer mixed forests; FL, agricultural fields; GL, grasslands.
Table 1 Summary and contributors of study sites. See also 8.1 Plot metadata.
|
Site |
Plot |
Treatment |
Ecosystem type |
Latitude (degree N in WGS84) |
Longitude (degree E in WGS84) |
Elevation (m) |
MAT (°C) |
MAP (mm y-1) |
Year of experiments |
Contributors |
Contact email (Replace "_at_" with @) |
Site-specific description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nakagawa |
NGWNA |
Nitrogen addition; three slope positions |
DB |
44.8104 |
142.1116 |
160 |
6.1 |
1214 |
2015 |
Karibu Fukuzawa* |
caribu_at_fsc.hokudai.ac.jp |
The plots were established in a conifer-broadleaved mixed forest with dense understory vegetation ( Sasa senanensis, Sasa kurilensis) in Nakagawa Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University. Watershed-scale nitrogen addition (50 kgN ha -1) has been conducted since 2001. One plot (NGWNA) was in the nitrogen addition area, and the other (NGWNN) was in a control (non-nitrogen addition) area. Within both plots, bags were buried in upper, middle and lower positions of slopes. |
|
NGWNN |
Control; three slope positions |
DB |
44.8100 |
142.1117 |
160 |
6.1 |
1214 |
2015 |
||||
|
NGW080 |
None |
SR |
44.8234 |
142.1185 |
80 |
5.1 |
1240 |
2015 |
Masahiro Nakamura*, Makoto Kobayashi* |
masahiro_at_fsc.hokudai.ac.jp, makoto_at_fsc.hokudai.ac.jp |
The plots were established along an elevational gradient from 80 to 600 m a.s.l. on Mt. Panke in the Nakagawa Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University. |
|
|
NGW350 |
None |
EC |
44.8369 |
142.1587 |
350 |
3.9 |
1262 |
2015 |
||||
|
NGW600 |
None |
EC |
44.8562 |
142.1497 |
600 |
3.2 |
1262 |
2015 |
||||
|
Uryu |
URN |
None |
BC |
44.3558 |
142.2581 |
300 |
4.4 |
1400 |
2016 |
Hideaki Shibata*, Karibu Fukuzawa |
shiba_at_fsc.hokudai.ac.jp |
The plot was established in an oak-dominated
cool-temperate mixed natural forest with Sasa dwarf
bamboo as the predominant understory species. The
topography was mostly flat, on the ridge of a small
watershed (ca. 3.2 ha). Further information is
available in the paper by
|
|
Ashoro |
ASR |
None |
DB |
43.2625 |
143.5078 |
330 |
6.6 |
822 |
2016 |
Yasuhiro Utsumi* |
utsumi_at_forest.kyushu-u.ac.jp |
The plot was established in a cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaf forest, represented by Quercus crispula and Acer mono, in the Ashoro Research Forest, Kyusyu University. |
|
Tomakomai |
TMLM |
6 types of litter manipulations |
DB |
42.6818 |
141.6262 |
36 |
7.5 |
1183 |
2012, 2014 |
Shigeru Niwa* |
sniwa_at_jwrc.or.jp |
The plot was established in a natural secondary forest in the Tomakomai Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University. Bags were buried in 18 triangle subplots with 6 different treatments combinations of litterfall manipulation (addition, removal and no manipulation) and fences (with and without a fence to prevent movement of soil invertebrates). |
|
TMSW |
Soil warming & Control |
DB |
42.7096 |
141.5661 |
90 |
7.2 |
1210 |
2012, 2014 |
Shigeru Niwa*, Tsutom Hiura |
sniwa_at_jwrc.or.jp |
The plot was established in a natural old-growth forest in the Tomakomai Experimental Forest, Hokkaido University. The forest regenerated after the volcanic eruption of Mt. Tarumae in 1669 and 1739 (ca. 280−350 years old) (Igarashi, 1987). Bags were buried in 4 warmed soil subplots (+ 5 degree C) and 4 control subplots (Ueda et al., 2013). |
|
|
TMNA |
Nitrogen addition |
DB |
42.6989 |
141.5713 |
91 |
7.1 |
1293 |
2016 |
Tatsuro Nakaji*, Tsutom Hiura |
nakaji_at_fsc.hokudai.ac.jp |
The plots were established in a natural old-growth forest, near TMSW (see above for details). Nitrogen addition (100 kg N ha-1) has been conducted in an area of 9.2 ha since 2013. One of two plots was established in the nitrogen added area (TMNA) and the other was outside this area (TMNN). A decomposition experiment of fir and oak leaf litter was carried out nearby the plot TMNA from 1999 to 2001 (Miyamoto and Hiura, 2007). |
|
|
TMNN |
Control |
DB |
42.7029 |
141.5714 |
97 |
7 |
1227 |
2016 |
||||
|
Hakkoda |
HKD0400 |
None |
DB |
40.5935 |
140.9643 |
416 |
7.5 |
1801 |
2016 |
Hiroko Kurokawa* |
hirokokurokawa_at_gmail.com |
The plots were established along an elevational gradient every 200 m from 400 to 1400 m a.s.l. on Mt. Hakkoda. The plots at lower elevation (HKD0400, HKD0600, HKD0800) are dominated by Fagus crenata, and the plots at higher elevation (HKD1000, HKD1200, HKD1400) are dominated by Abies mariesii. |
|
HKD0600 |
None |
DB |
40.5964 |
140.9461 |
649 |
6.6 |
1827 |
2016 |
||||
|
HKD0800 |
None |
DB |
40.6358 |
140.9308 |
791 |
5.4 |
1993 |
2016 |
||||
|
HKD1000 |
None |
EC |
40.6596 |
140.8515 |
980 |
4.2 |
1881 |
2016 |
||||
|
HKD1200 |
None |
EC |
40.6663 |
140.8671 |
1214 |
2.8 |
1838 |
2016 |
||||
|
HKD1400 |
None |
EC |
40.6729 |
140.8740 |
1404 |
2.1 |
1838 |
2016 |
||||
|
Kanumazawa |
KMZ |
Riparian & Terrace |
DB |
39.1100 |
140.8550 |
450 |
8.6 |
2056 |
2016 |
Kazuhiko Hoshizaki*, Michinari Matsushita |
khoshiz872_at_akita-pu.ac.jp |
The plot was located on the left-side bank of a riparian plot (1 ha), varying widely in soil temperatures. Bags were buried in riparian and terrace topographies in 2016. The elevations of the riparian and terrace areas were ca. 430 and 460 m a.s.l., respectively. Site description is available in Hoshizaki et al., (1997) and Masaki et al., (2007). |
|
Karayama |
KRY |
None |
DB |
36.9861 |
138.4495 |
527 |
9.9 |
2282 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hideyuki Ida |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plot was established in a secondary beech forest. |
|
Nabekurayama |
NBY |
None |
DB |
36.9772 |
138.3924 |
1019 |
7.7 |
2179 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hideyuki Ida |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plot was established in an old-growth beech forest on Mt. Nabekura. |
|
Shinsyuji |
SSJ |
None |
DB |
36.9176 |
138.3966 |
325 |
11.4 |
1840 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hideyuki Ida |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plot was established in a small fragmented beech forest in a northern part of Iiyama city. |
|
Kayanodaira |
KYD |
None |
DB |
36.8383 |
138.5000 |
1503 |
5.1 |
1675 |
2012 |
Yasuo Iimura*, Hideyuki Ida |
iimura.y_at_ses.usp.ac.jp |
The plot was established in an old-growth beech forest in the Institute for Nature Study, Shinshu University. |
|
Nekodake |
NEK1500 |
None |
SR |
36.5334 |
138.3642 |
1490 |
5.5 |
1294 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Mitsuru Hirota |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plots were established along an elevational gradient from 1500 to 2000 m a.s.l. on the western slope of Mt. Nekodake. Vegetation was sparse Rhododendron shrub with dense Sasa bamboo, except for NEK1500 where Rhododendron shrub with grasses predominated. |
|
NEK1700 |
None |
SR |
36.5409 |
138.3765 |
1683 |
4.3 |
1327 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Mitsuru Hirota |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
||
|
NEK1800 |
None |
SR |
36.5425 |
138.3816 |
1776 |
3.8 |
1327 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Mitsuru Hirota |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
||
|
NEK1900 |
None |
SR |
36.5435 |
138.3854 |
1888 |
3.1 |
1327 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Mitsuru Hirota |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
||
|
NEK2000 |
None |
SR |
36.5453 |
138.3883 |
1981 |
2.6 |
1327 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Mitsuru Hirota |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
||
|
Sugadaira |
SGDG |
Warming & Control |
GL |
36.5237 |
138.3493 |
1326 |
6.5 |
1223 |
2012, 2016 |
Tanaka Kenta*, Ryo Suzuki* |
kenta_at_sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp, susukigrassland_at_yahoo.co.jp |
The plots were established in four types of vegetation in the Sugadaira Montane Research Center, University of Tsukuba: Grassland (SGDG), Pinus forest (SGDP), Pinus-deciduous broadleaf mixed forest (SGDM), and deciduous broadleaf forest (SGDD). In 2012, the experiments were carried out inside and outside of open top chambers, which were installed to warm air temperature in the grassland. In 2016, bags were not buried in SGDD. |
|
SGDP |
None |
EC |
36.5219 |
138.3498 |
1326 |
6.5 |
1223 |
2012, 2016 |
Tanaka Kenta*, Ryo Suzuki, Hirota Mitsuru |
kenta_at_sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp |
||
|
SGDM |
None |
BC |
36.5207 |
138.3506 |
1305 |
6.5 |
1223 |
2012, 2016 |
Tanaka Kenta*, Ryo Suzuki, Hirota Mitsuru |
kenta_at_sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp |
||
|
SGDD |
None |
DB |
36.5198 |
138.3547 |
1335 |
6.3 |
1258 |
2012 |
Tanaka Kenta*, Ryo Suzuki |
kenta_at_sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp |
||
|
Oobora |
SOB |
None |
DB |
36.5033 |
138.3285 |
1409 |
6.2 |
1181 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hideyuki Ida, Ryo Suzuki |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plot was established in a beech forest. |
|
Gofukuji |
GFJ |
None |
DB |
36.1657 |
138.0196 |
983 |
9 |
1203 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hideyuki Ida |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plot was established in a small fragmented beech-oak forest. |
|
Ooshirakawa |
O SB |
None |
DB |
36.1500 |
136.8167 |
1354 |
5.5 |
3094 |
2012 |
Yasuo Iimura* |
iimura.y_at_ses.usp.ac.jp |
The plot was established in an old-growth beech forest. |
|
Takayama |
TKY |
Soil warming & Control |
DB |
36.1450 |
137.4233 |
1436 |
6.7 |
1930 |
2013, 2014, 2015 |
NamJin Noh*, Hiroyuki Muraoka* |
n.noh_at_westernsydney.edu.au, muraoka_at_green.gifu-u.ac.jp |
The plots were established in the Takayama Field Station, Gifu University. In plot TKY, bags were buried in experimental soil-warming quadrats and control quadrats in 2013, 2014 and 2015. See Noh et al., (2017) for details of the soil warming experiments. In 2012, the experiment was also carried out in natural soil conditions with dense dwarf bamboo ( Sasa senanensis) understory in plot TAKS, but without dwarf bamboo in plot TAKN. |
|
TAKN |
None |
DB |
36.1333 |
137.4167 |
1304 |
6.9 |
1902 |
2012 |
Yasuo Iimura* |
iimura.y_at_ses.usp.ac.jp |
||
|
TAKS |
None |
DB |
36.1333 |
137.4167 |
1304 |
6.9 |
1902 |
2012 |
Yasuo Iimura* |
iimura.y_at_ses.usp.ac.jp |
||
|
Norikura |
NRK1600 |
None |
EC |
36.1120 |
137.6116 |
1620 |
4.6 |
2576 |
2012 |
Koichi Takahashi* |
koichit_at_shinshu-u.ac.jp |
The plots were established along an elevational gradient from 1600 to 2800 m a.s.l. on Mt. Norikura. The three lower plots were in subalpine conifer forests and the higher two were in alpine dwarf stone pine shrub. |
|
NRK1950 |
None |
EC |
36.1161 |
137.5924 |
1986 |
3.5 |
2643 |
2012 |
||||
|
NRK2300 |
None |
EC |
36.1198 |
137.5708 |
2361 |
0.3 |
2690 |
2012 |
||||
|
NRK2500 |
None |
SR |
36.1158 |
137.5686 |
2499 |
0.1 |
2691 |
2012 |
||||
|
NRK2800 |
None |
SR |
36.1141 |
137.5500 |
2792 |
-1.4 |
2719 |
2012 |
||||
|
Yatsugatake |
NYT1350 |
None |
BC |
36.0327 |
138.2755 |
1323 |
8.1 |
1535 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki* |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plots were established along an elevational gradient from 1350 to 2400 m a.s.l. in the Northern Yatsugatake mountains. The plot at 2400 m was located in a wave-regenerated forest (Suzuki et al., 2009). The plots at lower elevation (NYT1350, NYT1500, NYT1700) were located in montane deciduous broadleaf forests, and the plots at higher elevation (NYT1800, NYT2150, NYT2400) were in subalpine Abies forests. |
|
NYT1500 |
None |
DB |
36.0324 |
138.2899 |
1504 |
5.9 |
1578 |
2012 |
||||
|
NYT1700 |
None |
DB |
36.0337 |
138.3049 |
1670 |
5.0 |
1592 |
2012 |
||||
|
NYT1800 |
None |
EC |
36.0335 |
138.3226 |
1816 |
4.2 |
1594 |
2012 |
||||
|
NYT2150 |
None |
EC |
36.0660 |
138.3259 |
2137 |
3.4 |
1568 |
2012 |
||||
|
NYT2400 |
None |
EC |
36.0743 |
138.3326 |
2380 |
1.6 |
1559 |
2012 |
||||
|
Kawakami |
KWB |
None |
DB |
35.9209 |
138.5054 |
1610 |
5.6 |
1381 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki, Tatsuyuki Seino |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plots were established in natural forests dominated by Fagus crenata (KWB) and Chamaecyparis pisifera (KWS), in the Kawakami Station of the Forest Mountain Research Center, University of Tsukuba. Species composition and stand structure of KWB were described by Seino (2018). KWB is located on a ridge and KWS is in a humid depression. |
|
KWS |
None |
EC |
35.9241 |
138.4938 |
1435 |
6.4 |
1369 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki, Tatsuyuki Seino, Hajime Kobayashi |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
||
|
Chichibu |
CCB0300 |
None |
DB |
35.9977 |
139.0625 |
340 |
12.4 |
1333 |
2014 |
Satoshi Suzuki* |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plots were established along an elevational gradient from 300 to 1850 m a.s.l. in the University of Tokyo Chichibu Forest. Soil properties were described by Shigyo et al. (2017). In 2014, bags were buried inside and outside of a deer exclosure fence (installed in 2013-2014) at each elevation, except the plot at 300 m.a.s.l. (without fence). In 2016, bags were buried in only 3 plots at 900, 1300, and 1800 m in elevation. |
|
CCB0900 |
Fence & Control |
DB |
35.9195 |
138.8318 |
900 |
9.5 |
1586 |
2014, 2016 |
||||
|
CCB1150 |
Fence & Control |
DB |
35.9139 |
138.8195 |
1170 |
8.2 |
1585 |
2014 |
||||
|
CCB1300 |
Fence & Control |
DB |
35.9174 |
138.8177 |
1300 |
8.2 |
1585 |
2014, 2016 |
||||
|
CCB1600 |
Fence & Control |
EC |
35.9224 |
138.8107 |
1620 |
7.2 |
1582 |
2014 |
||||
|
CCB1800 |
Fence & Control |
DB |
35.9154 |
138.8012 |
1790 |
6.3 |
1589 |
2014, 2016 |
||||
|
CCB1850 |
Fence & Control |
EC |
35.9149 |
138.7977 |
1840 |
4.5 |
1588 |
2014 |
||||
|
Terasawa |
TER1 |
None |
EC |
35.8921 |
138.0389 |
1128 |
8.4 |
1390 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hajime Kobayashi |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plots were established in a plantation of Chamaecyparis obtusa in the Terasawa Station, Education and Research Center of Alpine Field Science, Shinshu University. One (TER1) was in an intermediate position on a slope, and the other (TER2) was in a lower position of the slope. |
|
TER2 |
None |
EC |
35.8921 |
138.0382 |
1155 |
8.4 |
1390 |
2012 |
||||
|
Minamiminowa |
KNP |
None |
EC |
35.8665 |
137.9324 |
789 |
10.5 |
1533 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki* |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plots were established in three types of forests in the Minamiminowa campus of the Shinshu University; Pinus plantation (KNP), Larix plantation (KNL) and deciduous broadleaf-conifer mixed forest (KNM). Bags were buried in summer in 2012 and winter in 2012/2013 (KNM only). |
|
KNL |
None |
BC |
35.8665 |
137.9333 |
792 |
10.5 |
1533 |
2012 |
||||
|
KNM |
Summer & Winter |
DB |
35.8673 |
137.9330 |
794 |
10.5 |
1533 |
2012 |
||||
|
Nishikoma |
NKM1450 |
None |
DC |
35.8227 |
137.8510 |
1490 |
6.1 |
2443 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki* |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plots were established along an elevational gradient from 1450 to 2600 m a.s.l. in the Nishikoma Station, Education and Research Center of Alpine Field Science, Shinshu University. At 2600 m (NKM2600), in alpine Ericaceae shrub, tea bags were buried inside and outside of open top chambers (1.1 x 1.1 m), which were installed to experimentally increase air temperature. NKM1450 was in Larix kaempferi plantation, NKM1500 was in montane deciduous broadleaf forest, NKM1650 was in Tsuga diversifolia forest, and NKM1850, NKM2000, NKM2200, and NKM2400 were in subalpine Abies forests. |
|
NKM1500 |
None |
DB |
35.8219 |
137.8530 |
1519 |
6.1 |
2443 |
2012 |
||||
|
NKM1650 |
None |
EC |
35.8202 |
137.8498 |
1694 |
6.1 |
2443 |
2012 |
||||
|
NKM1850 |
None |
EC |
35.8209 |
137.8449 |
1864 |
4.6 |
2504 |
2012 |
||||
|
NKM2000 |
None |
EC |
35.8176 |
137.8384 |
2043 |
4.6 |
2504 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hajime Kobayashi |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
||
|
NKM2200 |
None |
EC |
35.8140 |
137.8368 |
2312 |
1.1 |
2591 |
2012 |
||||
|
NKM2400 |
None |
EC |
35.8112 |
137.8352 |
2482 |
1.1 |
2591 |
2012 |
||||
|
NKM2600 |
Warming & Control |
SR |
35.8093 |
137.8345 |
2584 |
1.1 |
2591 |
2012 |
Satoshi Suzuki*, Hajime Kobayashi, Tanaka Kenta |
s-suzuki_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
||
|
Hachioji |
TMUE |
None |
EB |
35.6192 |
139.3836 |
121 |
14.3 |
1653 |
2014 |
Tomonori Tsunoda* |
ttsunoda_at_shinshu-u.ac.jp |
The plots were established in evergreen broadleaf forest (TMUE), bamboo forest (TMUB), and agricultural field (TMUF) in the Minamiosawa campus of the Tokyo Metropolitan University. |
|
TMUB |
None |
EB |
35.6207 |
139.3866 |
116 |
14.3 |
1653 |
2014 |
||||
|
TMUF |
None |
FL |
35.6204 |
139.3863 |
113 |
14.3 |
1653 |
2014 |
||||
|
Ashiu |
AUBF |
None |
DB |
35.3486 |
135.7639 |
656 |
9.9 |
2184 |
2015 |
Takeshi Ise* |
ise_at_kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp |
Three plots were established in deciduous broadleaf forests on slopes (AUBS) and flat areas (AUBF), and in an evergreen coniferous forest (AUC) in the Ashiu Experimental Forests, Kyoto University. |
|
AUBS |
None |
DB |
35.3425 |
135.7578 |
657 |
9.9 |
2165 |
2015 |
||||
|
AUC |
None |
EC |
35.3403 |
135.7581 |
634 |
9.9 |
2197 |
2015 |
||||
|
Akazu |
AKZ |
Ridge & Valley |
BC |
35.2180 |
137.1682 |
342 |
12.8 |
1860 |
2016 |
Takanori Sato* |
satot_at_uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp |
The plot was established in the Akazu Research Forest in the Ecohydrology Research Institute, University of Tokyo. The Akazu Research Forest is a secondary forest in the warm‐temperate zone and is composed of a mixture of deciduous and evergreen broadleaf trees, and evergreen conifers (Chandrathilake et al., 2016). |
|
Yamashiro |
YMSR |
Ridge |
DB |
34.7900 |
135.8410 |
217 |
15.7 |
1511 |
2015, 2016 |
Mioko Ataka*, Yuji Kominami |
teshimamioko_at_yahoo.co.jp |
The two plots were established in ridge (YMSR) and valley (YMSV) areas in deciduous broadleaf forest in the Yamashiro Experimental Forest. Bags were buried in YMSR in 2015, and in both plots in 2016. |
|
YMSV |
Valley |
DB |
34.7870 |
135.8388 |
164 |
15.7 |
1511 |
2015, 2016 |
||||
|
Nishinomiya |
NMY |
None |
EB |
34.7569 |
135.3510 |
10 |
16.4 |
1327 |
2016/2017 |
Rie Miyata* |
miyamiya.r_at_gmail.com |
The plot was established in an urban forest. The experiments were conducted only during winter of 2016/2017. |
|
Kasuya |
KSJ |
None |
EB&DB |
33.6528 |
130.5453 |
520 |
14.6 |
1917 |
2016 |
Tsutomu Enoki* |
enoki_at_forest.kyushu-u.ac.jp |
The plot was established in a broadleaf forest, co-dominated by Quercus salicina and Carpinus tschonoskii, in the Kasuya Research Forest, Kyusyu University. |
|
Shiiba |
SIB |
None |
BC |
32.3984 |
131.1726 |
1054 |
9.4 |
3072 |
2016 |
Takuo Hishi* |
hishi_at_forest.kyushu-u.ac.jp |
Bags were buried in three plots, which were established along an elevational gradient from 1150 to 1600 m a.s.l. in the Siiba Experimental Forest, Kyusyu University, in 2015. Bags were also buried in another plot in 1050 m a.s.l in 2016. Because the incubated bags included large amounts of soil, the bags were washed with water before drying. |
|
SIB1100 |
None |
DB |
32.3600 |
131.0887 |
1114 |
9.8 |
3123 |
2015 |
||||
|
SIB1300 |
None |
DB |
32.3654 |
131.0784 |
1323 |
8.3 |
3131 |
2015 |
||||
|
SIB1600 |
None |
DB |
32.3707 |
131.0764 |
1592 |
7.4 |
3186 |
2015 |
||||
|
Nago |
NGDK |
None |
EB |
26.5873 |
128.0115 |
250 |
20.9 |
2085 |
2015 |
Kenta Watanabe*, Akira Iguchi, Yoshifumi Kina |
kenta-w_at_okinawa-ct.ac.jp |
The plot was established in an evergreen forest, dominated by Elaeocarpus and Machilus with shrub species Psychotria rubra, near the mountain trail of Mt. Nago. |
|
Naha |
NHSU |
None |
EB |
26.2272 |
127.7151 |
55 |
22.5 |
2035 |
2015 |
The plot was established in the Sueyoshi park, a remnant of the limestone evergreen forest, which is a typical forest of the south of Okinawa-jima Island. Dominant trees are Ficus and Turpinia with shrub species Psychotria manillensis. |
* contact person
Reference in Table 1
Hoshizaki, K., Suzuki, W., Sasaki, S. (1997) Impacts of secondary seed dispersal and herbivory on seedling survival in Aesculus turbinata, Journal of Vegetation Science 8, 735-742.
Igarashi, Y., (1987) Vegetational succession in the Tomakomai Experiment Forest area (in Japanese with English summary). Research Bulletins of the College Experiment Forests, Hokkaido University 44:405-427.
Masaki, T., Osumi, K., Takahashi, K., Hoshizaki, K., Matsune, K., Suzuki, W. (2007) Effects of microenvironmental heterogeneity on the seed-to-seedling process and tree coexistence in a riparian forest, Ecological Research 22, 724-734.
Miyamoto, T., Hiura, T. (2007) Decomposition and nitrogen release from the foliage litter of fir (Abies sachalinensis) and oak ( Quercus crispula) under different forest canopies in Hokkaido, Japan. Ecological Research 23:673-680.
Noh, N. J., Kuribayashi, M., Saitoh, T. M., Muraoka, H. (2017) Different responses of soil, heterotrophic and autotrophic respirations to a 4-year soil warming experiment in a cool-temperate deciduous broadleaved forest in central Japant. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 247: 560-570.
Seino, T. (2018) Stand structure and regeneration of a beech-dominated forest in the Kawakami Forest, Mountain Science Center, University of Tsukuba, central Japan. Chubu Forestry Research, 66:23-26.
Shigyo, N., Umeki, K., Hirao, T. (2017) Relationships between soil properties and environmental factors along elevational gradients in the University of Tokyo Chichibu Forest. Miscellaneous Information, the University of Tokyo Forests 59:223-233.
Suzuki, S. N., Kachi, N., Suzuki, J-I. (2009) Changes in variance components of forest structure along a chronosequence in a wave-regenerated forest, Ecological Research 24:1371-1379.
Suzuki, W., Osumi, K., Masaki, T., Takahashi, K., Daimaru, H., Hoshizaki, K. (2002) Disturbance regime and community structures of a riparian and an adjacent terrace stands in the Kanumazawa Riparian Research Forest, northern Japan. Forest Ecology and Management 157:285-301.
Ueda, M. U., Muller, O., Nakamura, M., Nakaji, T., Hiura, T. (2013) Soil warming decreases inorganic and dissolved organic nitrogen pools by preventing the soil from freezing in a cool temperate forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 61:105-108.
Urakawa et al. (2014) Biogeochemical nitrogen properties of forest soils in the Japanese archipelago. Ecological Research 30:1-2 (Data Paper) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1212-8
Metadata
1. Title
Harmonized data on early stage litter decomposition using tea material across Japan
2. Identifier
ERDP-2019-04
3. Contributor
The dataset was compiled by Satoshi N. Suzuki. The experiments that started in 2016 were initiated by Ika Djukic. Contributors for each site are presented in Table 1.
4. Associated project
Japanese Alps Inter-University Cooperative Project (JALPS)
Japan Long-Term Ecological Research Network (JaLTER)
TeaComposition initiative
5. Geographic coverage
A. Geographic description
Japan
B Bounding coordinates
Latitude: 26.2272° N - 44.8369° N
Longitude: 127.7151° E - 143.5078° E
6. Temporal coverage
2012-2016
7. Methods
Study sites
Study sites were distributed across the Japanese archipelago (26.2272° N - 44.8369° N), with a large variation in elevation, ranging from 10 to 2792 m above sea level (Fig 1, Table 1). The vegetation of study sites includes sub-tropical and warm temperate evergreen forests, cool temperate deciduous forests, subalpine and boreal conifer forests, alpine shrub forests, artificial conifer plantations, and semi-natural grasslands. The climate of the Japanese archipelago is a monsoonal climate, generally with wet summers and dry winters. Some sites, where the experiments were conducted in 2016, were included in a world-wide network of the tea bag experiments, the TeaComposition initiative (Djukic et al., 2018). The primary results of the experiments by the TeaComposition initiative can be found in Djukic et al. (2018).
In most of the study sites, studies were conducted in several plots with different environmental conditions, such as elevation, vegetation, and topography, or with different experimental treatments, such as soil-warming with an electric cable, aerial warming by open-top-chambers, litterfall manipulation by removal and addition, and nitrogen addition (see Table 1). See Table 1 for other site-specific conditions.
Experimental procedure
Commercially available tea bags of green and rooibos tea (Lipton Unilever) were used. Chemical compositions of the green and rooibos tea were reported by Keuskamp et al. (2013). In brief, green tea (leaves of the tea tree Camellia sinensis), with high cellulose content, is expected to decompose fast, and rooibos tea (leaves of Aspalanthus linearis), with high lignin content, is expected to decompose slowly. The bag material was made of woven nylon mesh, with a mesh size of 0.25 mm allowing free passage for the microorganisms. Before the start of the experiment, the initial dry weight of the bag content was determined by subtracting the averaged weight of an empty bag including tag and rope (0.248 g) from the dry weight of the bag including the tea leaves.
Studies were conducted, mostly in summer months, between 2012-2016. In each study plot, several subplots (10-m apart at least) were installed (Fig. 4), and 2 replicates for each type of tea were buried in each subplot (n = 4-10 per plot for each type) at the depth of 5-8 cm and within a distance of 10 cm. The bags were retrieved after ca. 90 days, dried at least 48 hours at 70°C and weighed after the removal of adhered soil particles. Dry weights of the bag contents were weighed directly, or by subtracting the average weight of an empty bag (bag, tag, and rope) from the total weight of the bag.
See Table 1 for the site-specific exceptions to the procedure. Opportunistically, some environmental variables, such as soil temperature, soil pH, and carbon and nitrogen contents in the soil, were measured.
Fig. 4 Typical study design at each site. Each site includes one to several plots; each plot includes several subplots; two replicates of the two tea types were buried in each subplot.
8. Data structure
8.1. Plot metadata
File name: data_Plot.csv
Format and storage mode: ASCII text, comma separated. No compression scheme was used.
Header information: The first row of the file contains the variable names below.
|
Header |
Types of data |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
site |
Character string |
Site name |
|
plot |
Character string |
Plot code |
|
treatment |
Character string |
Experimental treatment(s) for the plot (if any) |
|
etype |
Character string |
Ecosystem type; DB deciduous broadleaf forest; EB evergreen broadleaf forest; ED Evergreen-deciduous mixed broadleaf forest; EC evergreen coniferous forest; DC deciduous coniferous forest; BC broadleaf-conifer mixed forest; SR shrub including alpine shrub and dwarf bamboo shrub; GL grassland; FL agricultural field |
|
lat |
Numeric |
Latitude (degree, WGS84) |
|
lon |
Numeric |
Longitude (degree, WGS84) |
|
elevation |
Numeric |
Elevation (m) |
|
MAT |
Numeric |
Mean annual temperature (degree C). Obtained from climate database (Mesh Normal Climatic Data 2010 or WorldClim) or local meteorological observation data. |
|
MAP |
Numeric |
Mean annual precipitation (mm). Obtained from climate database (Mesh Normal Climatic Data 2010 or WorldClim) or local meteorological observation data. |
|
Mean01Temp |
Numeric |
Mean temperature of January (degree C). Obtained from Mesh Normal Climatic Data 2010. |
|
Mean08Temp |
Numeric |
Mean temperature of August (degree C). Obtained from Mesh Normal Climatic Data 2010. |
8.2. Subplot metadata
File name: data_Subplot.csv
Format and storage mode: ASCII text, comma separated. No compression scheme was used.
Header information: The first row of the file contains the variable names below.
|
Header |
Storage type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
site |
Character string |
Site name |
|
plot |
Character string |
Plot code |
|
treatment |
Character string |
Experimental treatment (if any) |
|
subplotID |
Character string |
Subplot ID. IDs were not duplicated among all sites. |
|
pH |
Numeric |
Soil pH. Generally, pH was measured in extract with H2O of surface mineral soil from 0-5 cm depth. |
|
soilC |
Numeric |
Soil total carbon concentration (%). Generally, surface mineral soil from 0-5 cm depth was sampled. |
|
soilN |
Numeric |
Soil total nitrogen concentration (%). Generally, surface mineral soil from 0-5 cm depth was sampled. |
|
AveSoilT_90days |
Numeric |
Average soil temperature (degree C) during the incubation period (ca. 90 days). Generally, soil temperature in 5 cm depth were measured by a logger. |
|
sdate1 |
Numeric |
Date tea bags were buried in YYYYMMDD format. |
|
sdate2 |
Numeric |
Date tea bags were recovered in YYYYMMDD format. |
|
R |
Numeric |
Average mass remaining rate of rooibos tea (n = 2 in general) in the subplot. |
|
G |
Numeric |
Average mass remaining rate of green tea (n = 2 in general) in the subplot. |
|
note |
Character string |
Notification for the subplot. |
8.3. Weights of tea bags
File name: data_TeaBagWeight.csv
Format and storage mode: ASCII text, comma separated. No compression scheme was used.
Header information: The first row of the file contains the variable names below.
|
Header |
Types of data |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
site |
Character string |
Site name |
|
plot |
Character string |
Plot code |
|
subplotID |
Character string |
Subplot ID. |
|
bagID |
Character string |
Tea bag ID. IDs were not duplicated within a site but may be duplicated among sites. |
|
type |
Character |
tea type; R: rooibos tea, G: green tea |
|
sdate1 |
Numeric |
Date tea bags were buried in YYYYMMDD format. |
|
sdate2 |
Numeric |
Date tea bags were recovered in YYYYMMDD format. |
|
IniWt |
Numeric |
Initial weight of tea without bag, tag and rope (g). |
|
Wt |
Numeric |
Weight of tea after incubation without bag, tag and rope (g). |
|
rem.rate |
Numeric |
Mass remaining rate of tea (Wt/IniWt). |
|
note |
Character string |
Notification for the data |
|
ErrCode |
Numeric |
Error code; 0 no error; 1 missing; 2 not available due to the bag broken; 3 the bag was exposed to ground; 5 unknown bag identity due to tag loss |
9. Acknowledgements
We thank all the members who helped to carry out the experiments. This study was partially supported by the Japanese Alps Inter-University Cooperative Project. For the 2016 experiments, tea bags used were sponsored by UNILEVER and applied protocol was established within TeaComposition Initiative, which is supported through the International Long-Term Ecological Research Network and the cost action ClimMani. We also acknowledge a variety of funding supports from individual research activities at each site.
References
Bradford, M. A., Berg, B., Maynard, D. S., Wieder, W. R., & Wood, S. A. (2016). Understanding the dominant controls on litter decomposition. Journal of Ecology, 104(1), 229-238. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12507
Chapin III, F. S., McFarland, J., David McGuire, A., Euskirchen, E. S., Ruess, R. W., & Kielland, K. (2009). The changing global carbon cycle: Linking plant-soil carbon dynamics to global consequences. Journal of Ecology, 97(5), 840-850. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01529.x
Didion, M., Repo, A., Liski, J., Forsius, M., Bierbaumer, M., & Djukic, I. (2016). Towards harmonizing leaf litter decomposition studies using standard tea bags-a field study and model application. Forests, 7(8), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/f7080167
Djukic, I., Kepfer-Rojas, S., Schmidt, I. K., Larsen, K. S., Beier, C., Berg, B., … Tóth, Z. (2018). Early stage litter decomposition across biomes. Science of the Total Environment, 628- 629, 1369-1394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.012
Harrison, A. F., Latter, P. M., & Walton, D. W. H. (Eds.). (1988). Cottton strip assay: An index of decomposition in soils. Grange-Over-Sands,UK: Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.
Houghton, R. A. (2005). Aboveground forest biomass and the global carbon balance. Global Change Biology, 11(6), 945-958. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.00955.x
Japan Meteorological Agency (2012) Mesh Normal Climatic Data 2010. In: Natl. L. Numer. Inf. http://nlftp.mlit.go.jp/ksj/gml/datalist/KsjTmplt-G02.html
Keuskamp, J. A., Dingemans, B. J. J., Lehtinen, T., & Sarneel, J. M. (2013). Tea Bag Index : a novel approach to collect uniform decomposition data across ecosystems, 1070-1075. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12097
Mori, A. S., Isbell, F., Fujii, S., Makoto, K., Matsuoka, S., & Osono, T. (2016). Low multifunctional redundancy of soil fungal diversity at multiple scales. Ecology Letters, 19(3), 249-259. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12560
Prescott, C. E. (2005). Do rates of litter decomposition tell us anything we really need to know? Forest Ecology and Management, 220(1-3), 66-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.08.005
Tiegs, S. D., Langhans, S. D., Tockner, K., & Gessner, M. O. (2007). Cotton strips as a leaf surrogate to measure decomposition in river floodplain habitats. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 26 (1), 70-77. https://doi.org/10.1899/0887-3593(2007)26[70:CSAALS]2.0.CO;2
Zhang, D., Hui, D., Luo, Y., & Zhou, G. (2008). Rates of litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems: global patterns and controlling factors. Journal of Plant Ecology, 1(2), 85-93. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtn002
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